Sparking attachment for a roller skate



April 23, 1 63 J. VISLOCKY 3,086,788

SPARKING ATTACHMENT FOR A ROLLER SKATE Filed Feb. 12, 1960 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\MW\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\m\ INVENTOR John Vislocky FIG.5. 9414 g ATTORNEY 3,086,788 SPARKING ATTACITMENT FOR A RQLLER SKATE John Visiocky, 487 Columbus Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed Feb. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 8,399 33 Claims. (Cl. 28ii-1L37) The present invention relates to a sparking attachment for rolling skates, and more particularly to such an attachment in which a flint is carried by a clamp on the axle housing and either an abrasive-faced separable annulus or an abrasive-faced adhesive-backed annulus is provided.

It has been found desirable, in order to provide a pleasing and spectacular display effect in connection with roller skating, to provide a sparking attachment for the roller skates, such a sparking attachment giving off a shower of sparks during the skating. While such a sparking attachment heretofore has been suggested, it has proven unsatisfactory for several reasons. The known sparking attachment, for example, required the removal of one of the Wheel retaining nuts in order to install it onto the skate, and thus this attachment necessitated the use of a pair of wrenches for both initial installation and replacement. In

addition, in the known roller skate sparking attachment, rotation of the flint holder was prevented only by the clamping action of the nuts on the ends of the axle, and so this device was subject to becoming inoperative upon a loosening of these nuts, it being understood that loosening of the nuts could well occur through normal vibrations attendant to the skating. Where peening is relied upon to prevent the nut from backing off of the axle threads, the installation of this known sparking attachment, requiring the removal of at least one nut, resulted in the destruction of the peening.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sparking attachment for a roller skate which may be installed on the roller skate without any disassembly of the skate.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a skating attachment for roller skates that does not require any tools for mounting the attachment on the skate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sparkin attachment for a roller skate that will not require the destruction of any peening during the installation thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a sparking attachment for roller skates that may be readily assembled to the roller skate.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sparking attachment for roller skates that may be made of readily available materials and at low cost.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a sparking attachment for roller skates which is capable of maintaining uniform pressure on the pyrophoric element throughout the life thereof.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a roller skate having the sparking attachment of the present invention installed thereon.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the roller skate and sparking attachment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective View of a flint holder in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an abrasive annulus forming a part of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the installation of another embodiment of an abrasive annulus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference Patented Apr. 23, 1963 characters are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there may be seen in FIG. 1 the rear part of a roller skate, generally designated 10. Roller skate 10 has, in known fashion, an axle housing 11 that is of generally cylindrical configuration, housing 11 having an attachment part 12 to which it is joined by a radially outstanding connecting part. Within the axle housing 11 is an axle 13, and as may be seen from FIG. 2, the axle 13 supports the wheels 14.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there may be seen a flint holder 20 comprising a clamp 21 having a longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical part 22 and a pair of semicylindrical bands 23 and 24 in opposed, cylinder-defining relation thereto. The hands 23 and 24 are integral with the semi-cylindrical part 22, the bands 23 and 24 being slightly spaced from the semi-cylindrical part 22 at the upper ends thereof (as shown in FIG. 3). It will, of course, be understood that the clamp 21 may take other forms than that specifically shown and described herein.

Extending from the clamp 21 is a flange 26, the flange 25 being rolled at its lower end to form the sleeve member 27. The clamp 21, flange 26 and sleeve member 27 are preferably formed of spring steel so as to have a degree of resiliency.

A rod 3% is provided, rod 30 having screw threads 31 at one end thereof. A spring 32 has an internal diameter at least as large as the diameter of rod 30, and a flint suppont 3 3 is internally threaded at one end and has a flint 34 extending from the other end thereof.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a separable annulus generally designated 40, annulus 49 having a first part 41 and a second part 42. The second part 42 extends, in the assembled annulus, from the outer boundary 43 to the inner boundary 44 of the annulus and is at least substantially as large in circumferential extent at the inner boundary 44 as the axle 13. In the preferred, illustrated embodiment, the second part 42 has two generally parallel side margins 46 and 47, these margins 46 and 47 having grooves 48 and 49 therein extending between the boundaries 43 and 44. The corresponding margins 5-1 and 52 of the first part 41 have corresponding tongues 53 and 54, and as will be readily understood the tongue and groove construction permits the ready assembly and disassembly of the two parts 41 and 42 to form a complete annulus 40.

To retain the two parts 41 and 42 in assembled relationship, the groove '49 is provided with a protrusion 55 and the tongue 54 is provided with a corresponding, mating indentation 56. Thus, the protrusion 55 will lock in the indentation 56 to hold the parts 41 and 42 together.

The parts 41 and 42 are formed of a resilient material, preferably plastic, to one face of which there is secured an annulus of abrasive-containing material 57. The opposite side of the parts 41 and 42 has secured thereto an annulus 58 of anti-friction material, such as rubber or a rubber-fabric. The material of which the midportion of parts 41 and 42 is made is slightly resilient to permit the parts to fit together and to be disassembled.

In use, the part 41 of annulus 40' is placed over the axle 13, between a wheel 14 and the axle housing 11, the margins 51 and 52 passing on either side of the axle 1 1. The anti-friction side 58 of the part 41 faces the adjacent wheel 14. The part 42 is then slid into position, the tongues 53 and 54 engaging in the grooves 48 and 4?, respectively, and the protrusion 55 eventually seating in the indentation 56. With the flint support 33 screwed onto the rod 31, and with the spring 32 between the flint support 33 and the flange 26, the clamp 21 is installed onto the axle housing 11, as may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the part 22 cooperating with the bands 23 and 24 to hold the entire flint holder 20 on the axle housing 3 11. As may be seen from FIG. 2, the spring 32 will urge the flint support 33 to the right, and thus flint 34 will be caused to engage with the surface 57 of the annulus 40. The initial pressure of the spring 32 may be adjusted by sliding the entire flint holder 20 axially of the housing 11.

As will be understood, the normal skating action will cause the wheels 14 to revolve, and because of the surface 58, annulus 40 will be revolved with the wheel 14 adjacent thereto. This will cause the abrasive-containing surface 57 tomove in relation to the flint 34, it being understood from a consideration of FIG. 1 that the flint holder 20 cannot revolve on the axle housing 11. As the flint 34 wears down the spring 32 will maintain it in contact with the surface 57.

In FIG. there is shown another embodiment of the abrasive-bearing annulus. The annulus 60 shown in FIG. 5 is made of three layers, there being a base layer 61, an abrasive-containing layer 62 and an adhesive layer 63. The annulus 60 is slit from the inner boundary 64 to the outer boundary 65, to provide the mating edges 66 and 67. It will be understood, of course, that a suitable protective layer may be placed over the adhesive layer 63, and possibly. over the abrasive-containing layer 62, in order to preserve them during storage and handling. Also, the abrasive material may be embedded directly into the base layer 61, rather than being contained in a separate layer as shown.

The installation and removal of the annulus 60 may be accomplished quite easily, it merely being adhered to a wheel 14 for installation, and pulled therefrom when it is desired to remove one annulus 60' and replace it with another.

While there has been referred to hereinabove a flint and an abrasive as the spark generating substances, it will'be apparent-to those skilled in the art that these expressions are used in their most generic sense, since many other combinations of materials are known which will give off a spark when struck or rubbed against each other.

There has been provided a sparking attachment for roller skates that may be readily assembled onto anddisassembled from the skate, without requiring any disassembly of the skate parts themselves. Nor'is there required by the sparking attachment of the present invention any destruction of peening used in the manufacture of the skate. The sparking attachment of .the present invention maybe readily manufactured at low cost and of readily available materials.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited'to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a roller skate, the combination of an axle housing fixed to the skate, an axle therein and wheels carried by said axle, said axle housing being of generally cylindrical configuration, a flint holder attached to said hous ing and comprising a clamp of resilient. material having a longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical part and a pair of semi-cylindrical bands in opposed cylinder-defining relation thereto, means preventing rotation of said clamp on said housing, a flange extending from said clamp and having asleeve member thereon, a rod in said sleeve and having a'threaded end. extending fromone end of said sleeve, a flint support having one end threaded on said rod and having a flint extending from the other end thereof, a separable annulus on said axle having an ab rasive surface in juxtaposition with said flint and a friction surface in juxtaposition with an inner side of a said wheel, said annulus comprising a first part and a second part, said second part extending from the outer to the inner boundary of the annulus and being at least as large incircumferential extent at the inner'boundary as said axle, means releasably securing parts of said annulus and spring support toward said annulus.

2. A roller skate in accordance with claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising a protrusion on one of said parts and a mating indentation on the other of said parts.

3. A roller skate in accordance with claim 1, themargins of said second part extending between the inner and outer boundaries of said annulus being parallel, said margins having grooves therein extending between said boundaries and said first part having corresponding tongues extending along the margins thereof and engaged in said grooves.

4. A roller skate in accordance with claim 3 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a protrusion in one of said grooves and a mating indentation on the corresponding tongue.

7 5. In a roller skate, the combination of an axle housing fixed to the skate, an axle therein and wheels carried by said axle, said axle housing being of generally cylindrical configuration, a flint holder attached to said housing and comprising a clamp of resilient material embracingly engaging said housing, means preventing rotation of said clamp on said housing, a flange extending from said clamp and having a sleeve member thereon, a rod in said sleeve md having a threaded end extending from one end of said sleeve, a flint support having one end threaded on said rod and having a flint extending from the other end thereof, a separable annulus on said axle having an abrasive surface in juxtaposition with said flint and a friction surface in juxtaposition with an' inner side of a said wheel, said annulus comprising a first part and a second part, said second part extending from the outer to the inner boundary of the annulus and being at least as large in circumferentialextent at the inner boundary as said axle, and means releasably securing together the said two parts of said annulus.

6. In a roller skate, the combination of an axle housing fixed to the skate, an axle thereinand wheels carried by said axle, said axle housing being of generally cylin-" drical configuration, a flintholder attached to said hous ing and comprising. a' clamp of resilient material, means preventing rotation of said clamp on said housing, said flint holder further comprising means forsupporting a flint, and a separable annulus on said axle having an abrasive surface in juxtapositioan with said flint and a friction surface in juxtaposition with an inner side of a said wheel, said annulus comprising a first part and a second part, said second part extending from the outer to the inner boundary of the annulus and being at least as large in circumferential extent at the inner boundary as said axle, and means releasably securing together the said two parts of said annulus.

7. A roller skate in accordance with claim 6, said last mentioned means comprising a protrusion on one of said parts and a mating indentation on the other of said parts.

8. A roller skate in accordance with claim 6, the margins of said second part extending between the inner and outer boundaries of said annulus being parallel, said margins having grooves therein extending between said boundaries and said first part having corresponding tongues extending along the margins thereof and engaged in said grooves.

*9. A roller skate in accordance with claim 8 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a protrusion in one of said grooves and a mating indentation on the corresponding tongue.

:10. In a roller skate, the combination of an axle housing fixed to the skate, an axle therein and wheels carried by said axle, said axle housing being of generally cylindrical configuration, a flint holder directly attached to said housing between said wheels and comprising a clamp of resilient material embraceably engaging the cylindrical portion of said housing, means preventing rotogether the said two means urging said flint tation of said clamp on said housing, said flint holder further comprising means for supporting a flint, and an abrasive-surface annulus in juxtaposition with said flint.

11. The combination of claim 10, said annulus comprising two separable parts.

12. The combination of claim 10, said annulus comprising a flexible material having an adhesive layer on one side and an abrasive surface on the other side thereof.

13. For use on a roller skate having an axle housing fixed to the skate, an axle therein and wheels carried by said axle, the axle housing being of generally cylindrical configuration, a flint holder adapted to be attached to said housing and comprising a clamp of resilient material having a longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical part and a pair of semi-cylindrical bands in opposed cylinder-defining relation thereto, means preventing rotation of said clamp on said housing, a flange extending from said clamp and having a. sleeve member thereon, a rod in said sleeve and having a threaded end extending from one end of said sleeve, a flint support having one end threaded on said rod and having a flint extending from the other end thereof, and spring means urging said rod outwardly of said sleeve.

14. For use on a roller skate having an axle housing fixed to the skate, an axle therein and wheels carried by said axle, the axle housing being of generally cylindrical configuration with a radially outstanding part, a flint holder adapted to be attached to said housing and comprising clamp means of resilient material for embnacingly engaging the housing about the generally cylindrical periphery thereof, said holder also comprising means for supporting a flint.

15. The flint holder of claim 14, said last memtioned means comprising a flange extending from said clamp means and having 'a sleeve member thereon.

16. A annulus for positioning adjacent a skate wheel and for cooperating with a flint to produce sparks, said annulus having an abrasive surface adapted to be engaged by a flint and a friction surface adapted to be placed in juxtaposition with a side of a said wheel, said annulus comprising a first part and a second part, said second part extending from the outer to the inner boundary of the annulus, and means releasably securing together the said two parts of said annulus.

17. An annulus of a roller skate in accordance with claim 16, said last mentioned means comprising a protrusion on one of said parts and a mating indentation on the other of said parts.

18. The annulus of claim 16, the margins of said second part extending between the inner and outer boundaries of said annulus being parallel, said margins having grooves therein extending between said boundaries and said first part having corresponding tongues extending along the margains thereof and engaged in said grooves.

19. The annulus of claim 18, wherein said last mentioned means comprises a protrusion in one of said grooves and a mating indentation on the corresponding tongue.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 914,458 Rieger Mar. 9, 1909 1,210,666 Matthews Jan. 2,1917 1,539,868 Roberts June 2, 1925 1,790,423 Hooks Jan. 27, 193-1 2,039,819 Marx May 5, 1936 2,208,888 Whited July 23, 1940 2,572,835 Bloom Oct. 30, 1951 

10. IN A ROLLER SKATE, THE COMBINATION OF AN AXLE HOUSING FIXED TO THE SKATE, AN AXLE THEREIN AND WHEELS CARRIED BY SAID AXLE, SAID AXLE HOUSING BEING OF GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION, A FLINT HOLDER DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO SAID HOUSING BETWEEN SAID WHEELS AND COMPRISING A CLAMP OF RESILIENT MATERIAL EMBRACEABLY ENGAGING THE 